Wellington - New Zealand authorities are baffled by a mystery cache of machine guns, bullets, grenades and mortar bombs found in a shipping container from China in the South Island port of Dunedin, according to news reports on Wednesday.

"The items were stored in boxes inside the container, which had come from China.

An area around the Fryatt St container yard where the container was being examined was cordoned off for about 30 minutes around noon until officers confirmed the cargo of munitions had been disarmed.

Sergeant Chris McLellan, of Dunedin, said the bomb squad was dispatched from Christchurch as a precaution to ensure no live explosives were inside the container.

The squad arrived to examine the container's contents about 6pm.

An initial police assessment had found the grenades and mortars, while appearing to be authentic weapons, were most likely imitations, while the .50 calibre rounds were real but the working components of the bullets had been removed and the caps replaced.

Other suspicious items, including an "unusual" collection of knives, were found in the container.

Police, Customs New Zealand and Port Otago were tracing the container's movements, including the ultimate destination and use of the goods.

Police were assuming the items were for personal use.

It was unclear yesterday whether the correct paperwork for the items had been filled out. "

11
posted on 05/06/2009 5:46:22 PM PDT
by bruinbirdman
("Those who control language control minds.")

It is known among Americans living in China that weapons are supplied, to mexico and other countries. I mentioned it to a friend of ours who married Chinese and lives there now that Hillary said we are supplying weapons to the drug cartel and he looked amused. I said is it Venezuela? He said no,its China.

15
posted on 05/06/2009 6:18:42 PM PDT
by OafOfOffice
(Did You Ever Get The Feeling That The GOP Went Out For A Cigarette & Never Came Back?)

Today, New Zealand is home to Muslim migrants from about 40 different countries, including 3000 Pakeha (European) Muslims and 700 indigenous Maoris.

There is a small but growing conversion to Islam among the wider New Zealand population, and Islam is the fastest growing religion amongst the Maori community. The 2001 census figures show the number of Maori Muslims increased from 99 to 708 in the 10 years to 2001.

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